Fixing system

ABSTRACT

A fixing system for fixing a first component to a second component, wherein the first component is formed with at least one tab which can engages with at least one tongue formed on the second component, wherein the minimum of one tab is formed with at least one conical hole with which a projection, particularly a conical projection, provided on the tongue can be brought into engagement by latching therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a fixing system for fixing afirst component to a second component.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In the field of automobile construction, in particular, there isfrequently a need to fix individual components to one another. Examplesinclude interior cladding sections which are to be mounted oncorresponding support members of the bodywork. Another example is theexterior mounting of decorative strips on the vehicle bodywork.

[0005] It is also necessary from time to time to fix components to theradiator grille of a motor vehicle. Thus, for example, it is known tofix a so-called distance control plate or ART plate to a radiator grillewithin the scope of distance sensing and regulating technology (German:Abstands-Regel-Technik, ART or distance-control-technology). Previousfixing systems have used resilient steel discs which co-operate withcorrespondingly formed projections. A fixing system of this kind hasproved to be relatively expensive to produce and unreliable. Moreoverthere is a relatively high number of rejects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is desirable to overcome these problems by providing a simple,cheaply produced and reliable fixing system particularly for securingmotor vehicle components to one another.

[0007] The fixing system according to the invention can be producedeasily and cheaply and has proved to be robust and reliable in practice.Using the system according to the invention it is possible to clipplastic components together with virtually no play and in such a way asto maintain pre-stressing. As the system merely comprises componentswhich are to be formed on the components to be fixed to one another, noadditional fixing elements are required. The system according to theinvention can be produced to a very high quality as production is wellcontrolled and can be mounted and dismantled several times. The systemaccording to the invention provides the same operational reliability asconventional known systems while making mounting and dismantling easier.

[0008] According to a first preferred embodiment of the system accordingto the invention, two, three, four or more tabs are formed on the firstcomponent to be secured, engaging with a corresponding number of tonguesprovided on the second component. By matching the number of tabs andtongues which are to engage with one another the fixing system accordingto the invention can easily be adapted to the size or mass of thecomponents which are to be fixed together.

[0009] It has proved advantageous to construct the tongue as a resilienttongue, particularly of plastics. By providing resilient tongues of thiskind the system according to the invention can be mounted or dismantledparticularly easily.

[0010] By these measures it is advantageously possible to form the tabsand tongues integrally with the respective components. This lowers themanufacturing costs and the number of components can be reduced comparedwith conventional solutions. The tabs are appropriately also made ofplastics.

[0011] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the fixingsystem according to the invention the ends of the conical projectionsprovided on the tongues are in the form of sectors of a circle orsemicircles. Such a “dome-like” configuration of the ends of the conicalprojections confers advantages in connection with the centring of thecomponents which are to be fixed to one another.

[0012] According to another preferred embodiment of the fixing systemaccording to the invention, the first component is a radiator grille,and the second component is a plate to be fixed to the radiator grill,particularly a distance control plate. These two components can besecurely fixed to one another cheaply and easily by means of the fixingsystem according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Other advantages of the present invention will be readilyappreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of radiator grille components and adistance control plate which can be fixed to one another using thefixing system according to the invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the distance controlplate according to FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective rear view of the radiator grille accordingto FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the central part of theradiator grille; and

[0018]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] In FIG. 1, a radiator grille including a plurality of components10, 11 and 14 is generally designated at 12. The component 10 of theradiator grille 12 is a radiator mesh while component 11 is a frame. Thecomponent 14 is a distance control plate 14, to be used within the scopeof a distance regulating or control device, is to be fixed to theradiator mesh 10

[0020] It should be pointed out that it is possible to secure thecomponents 10 and 11 to one another first and then to fix the distancecontrol plate 14 to the radiator grille thus formed, using the systemaccording to the invention.

[0021] However, in the interests of simplicity and by way of example, itwill be assumed here that the distance control plate 14 is first fixedto the radiator mesh 10 and then the frame 11 is mounted on thecomponents 10, 14 fixed to one another.

[0022] The distance control plate 14 is constructed with four tabs 16which are also clearly shown in FIG. 2. The tabs 16 each have asubstantially planar flat area or surface 16 a extending substantiallyperpendicular to the main direction of the distance control plate andcontaining tapering conical recesses 16 b. The recesses in the uppertabs 16 taper downwards while those in the lower tabs 16 taper upwards.In addition, the tabs have diagonally extending reinforcing webs 16 cfor supporting and reinforcing the surfaces 16 a.

[0023] As can be seen especially from FIGS. 3 and 5, the radiator mesh10 has in particular resiliently constructed plastics tongues 20 each ofwhich has a conical spike 21. The dimensions and shape of the spikes 21are such that they are able to be received and engaged in the recesses16 b in the tabs 16 on the distance control plate 14. Thus, the spikes21 on the upper tongues 20 taper downwards while those on the lowertongues taper upwards.

[0024] The conical spikes 21 engage in the recesses 16 b in the mannerof the conical clamping principle as used in rotary engines, forexample.

[0025]FIG. 5 in particular shows that the upper conical spikes 21 engagein the correspondingly conical recesses 16 b from above and the lowerconical spikes 21 engage therein from below. More specifically,referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, as the control plate 14 is pressed into theopening provided in radiator mesh 10, the leading edge of the flatsurface 16 a of the plurality of tabs 16 engages the conical spike 21 ofthe corresponding tongue 20 on the mesh 10. The conical shape of thespikes 21 allow s the tabs 16 to ride along the spike 21 and flex theresilient tongue 20 until the spike 21 is received in the correspondingconical recess 16 b in the tab 16. The mating conical shapes of thespikes 21 and recesses 16 b receive and retain the tongue 20 connectedto the tab 16 and thus fixedly secure the control plate 14 to the mesh10. The frame 11 may then be connected to the grille 12 is a similarmanner of attachment.

[0026] As a result of the resilient engagement thus provided between theconical spikes 21 and the recesses 16 b, the distance control plate 14is securely fixed to the radiator grille mesh 10.

[0027] It should be pointed out that, even though it is not specificallyshown, the frame 11 may also be fixed to the radiator mesh 10 by meansof the fixing system according to the invention.

[0028] Both the radiator grille components 10, 11 and the distancecontrol plate 14 are expediently made of plastics. Thus, the tongues 20and tabs 16 which lock these components to one another can easily bemade integral with the respective components. The fixing systemaccording to the invention is beneficial, for example, in that due tothe resilient locking of the plastics elements with one another, thereis no material fatigue such as would occur with conventional attachmentsusing metal brackets.

[0029] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, andit is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, isintended to be in the nature of words of description rather than oflimitation.

[0030] Many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practised other than as specifically described.

1. A fixing system for fixing a first component (14) to a secondcomponent (10), wherein the first component (14) includes at least onetab (16) integrally formed on the first component (14) which can engagewith at least one tongue (20) integrally formed on the second component(10), characterised in that at least one tab (16) is formed with atleast one conical hole (16 b) therein with which a corresponding conicalprojection (21), formed integrally on and projecting from the tongue(20), can be brought into mating engagement by pressing the firstcomponent against the second component such that contact between the taband the projection flexes the tongue until the conical projection ismatingly received and retained in the conical hole thereby fixing thefirst component to the second component.
 2. A fixing system according toclaim 1, characterised in that a plurality of tabs (16) are integrallyformed on the first component (14), which are adapted to matingly engagewith a corresponding number of tongues (20) integrally formed on thesecond component (10).
 3. A fixing system according to claim 2,characterised in that at least one of said tongues (20) is constructedof plastic as a resilient tongue.
 4. A fixing system according to claim3, characterised in that at least one tab (16) is made of plastics. 5.(Cancelled)
 6. A fixing system according to claim 4, characterised inthat the ends of the conical projections (21) are part-spherical orhemispherical.
 7. A fixing system according to claim 6, characterised inthat the first component (14) is a distance control plate and the secondcomponent (10) is a component of a radiator grille to which the distancecontrol plate is to be fixed.